WAR veterans formed a guard of honour yesterday as a former Newport Naval officer and Royal British Legion stalwart was laid to rest.

Traffic in the city was stopped as popular Walter Arthur Thomas's coffin was taken to St Stephen's Church, Pill, in a police-escorted horse-drawn carriage.

Nearly 100 mourners gathered for the service to celebrate the life of "the poppy man", who died following a second stroke on January 18, aged 78.

Around a dozen members of the Royal British Legion formed a guard of honour for the Pill man and many carried the Legion's flags.

The congregation heard how Mr Thomas had spent decades in various roles with the British Legion, including chairman of the Newport branch. He raised thousands of pounds over 30 years of service.

The father-of-five lied about his age and joined the Royal Navy as a 15-year-old, such was his desire to serve his country.

Mr Thomas was awarded six service and defence medals throughout his forces career.

After leaving the Navy in 1954, he worked for years as a stoker on trains in Newport and later as a bus driver in the city.

After the service, Mr Thomas's son, Glyn, 51, said: "He was a guy who was bigger than life. He was there for his family and you could always rely on him."

During the service, one of Mr Thomas's 10 grandchildren, Rebekah, read the poem "Miss Me But Let Me Go".

A member of the regimental band of the Royal Welsh played the Last Post moments before his coffin, shrouded in the White Ensign, was carried from the church.